Controlled cuts (knives) listed in the Temporary Regulations on Controlled Cuts issued by the Public Security Ministry and approved by the State Department of the People’s Republic of China. This includes daggers, three square tools (including the three square tool used in mechanics), knives with self-locks, backswords, catlings that are longer than a dagger, and any other similar articles.

Please note that hunting equipment, athletic sports equipment, antiques, and tour souvenirs can be defined as checked baggage as long as the carrier’s requirements are met.

Items which are reasonably considered by us to be unsuitable for carriage because they are dangerous, unsafe, or by reason of their weight, size, shape or character, or which are fragile or perishable having regard to, among other things, the type of aircraft being used. Information about unacceptable items is available upon request.

In accordance with the notice from the Chinese Authority, effective April 7, 2008, matches and lighters in carry-on baggage to international and domestic aircraft departing to/from China are under the ban strictly. These items are prohibited when carried as checked baggage, too. Please note that matches and lighters must be confiscated at security checkpoint.

Cryogenic (liquids): may contain frozen liquid gases, such as liquid nitrogen or liquid helium. The reason cryogenic liquids are dangerous is that they cause tissue damage upon contact with skin and can suffocate people if they are released in a confined space.

Diving equipment: may be equipped with cylinders that normally contain compressed air or mixtures of special gases (such as diving tanks, oxygen cylinders). Empty cylinders (indicator pointing to zero) may be accepted for carriage. Diving lights may contain rechargeable lead-acid batteries and high-intensity diving lights may generate large amounts of heat when illuminated.

Therefore, the batteries and bulbs shall be removed to insure safe carriage.

Drilling and mining equipment: may contain explosives or other dangerous goods.

Dry shipments: may contain free liquid nitrogen. They are accepted for transport only if there is no possible leakage of liquid nitrogen regardless of the orientation of the package.

Electrical equipment: may contain magnetic substances, or mercury in the drive device and electron tubes, or may contain wet cell batteries.

Magnets and other similar materials: may meet the defining criteria for magnetic materials, alone or in combination.

Metal construction material, metal fencing, and metal piping: may contain ferrous magnetic materials and should be carried in accordance with special carriage requirements to avoid any impact on aircraft instruments.

Refrigerators, air conditioners: may contain liquefied gases or ammonium solutions. They are allowed for transport only if they contain less than 12 kg of non-flammable, non-toxic gas or less than 12 L of ammonium solution at a concentration of less than 35%.

Torches: Small torches may contain flammable gases and be equipped with electric starters. Large torches may consist of a head (normally equipped with a self-igniting switch) and a container or gas cylinder containing flammable gas.

TV’s, acoustics, washing machines, refrigerator, computers, recorders, etc should be transported as checked baggage and either have the original factory packaging or Air China approved packaging. These items would not qualify in the free checked baggage allowance and would be charged as overweight baggage. Air China will bear any liabilities in accordance to checked baggage policies.

Athletic sports equipment

Sports guns and bullets should only be transported as checked baggage along with transportation certificates issued by appropriate authorities. They should be locked and packed separately and approved by Air China. The bullet allowance for each passenger is 5kg (11 lbs) (gross weight). Passengers traveling in groups should pack their bullets separately. These items would not qualify in the free baggage allowance and would be charged as overweight baggage. Passengers transporting guns and bullets should complete all check formalities 90 minutes before departure.

Animals

To transport a small animal such as a pet cat or pet dog, please contact Air China. Animal quarantine certificates and valid certificates for small animals leaving, entering or passing through China should be provided. Small animals should not be carried into the cabin, but should travel as checked baggage. The small animal and its container will be charged as overweight baggage. If the small animal is rejected to enter the country of destination, or is injured, lost, delayed, ill or dead, Air China will not bear any liability.

The container the small animal is transported in should be as follows:

Prevent the small animal from damaging any person, baggage, goods or the airplane

Large enough so the small animal can move with proper ventilation to avoid asphyxia

Two small animals less than 14kg (30 lbs) could be transported in one container

Any small animal over 14kg (30 lbs) should be transported in their own container

Three small animals under six months old can be transported separately or together in one container

Please note that Air China has the right to refuse carriage of any animal that appears wild or dangerous.

For more information, please log onto the China Customs websites for animal and plant quarantine:

Both manual and electronic wheelchairs are transported as checked baggage. They qualify as free checked-baggage so they are not included in baggage allowance limits. If a wheelchair is needed during check-in and has been given the consent of Air China, it will be delivered at the departure gate before boarding.

If an electronic wheelchair is checked, the packing should be as follows:

Wheelchair with leak-proof battery – Ensure the battery does not have a short circuit and it should be securely installed on the wheelchair.

Wheelchair without leak-proof battery – The battery should not be installed on the wheelchair and should have protective packaging. It should be leak-proof and fixed with a belt, fixture or bracket on the pallet or in the cargo compartment. Ensure the battery does not have a short circuit and it is filled with suitable absorption material to absorb any leaked liquid.

The packing will be marked as either “BATTERY, WET, WHEELCHAIR”, or “BATTERY, WET, WITH MOBILITY AID”. Additional labels will be added saying “CORROSIVE” and “UPWARD”.

For more wheelchair information, please consult with the local business department or office

Edge and Blunt Tools

Medical tools of which the blade is less than 6cm (2.4 inches) and sharp special cut tools and blunt tools for which the blades are over 6cm (2.4 inches). This includes living and production tools such as a kitchen knife, fruit knife, dinner knife, technique knife, bistouries, scissors, reaphook, performance tool, sword, lance, curio or travel souvenirs, iron prick, axe, short stick, sinker, etc. These tools should be packed in checked baggage and not be carried into the cabin.

Dry ice, liquid drinks, liquid cosmetics and household products

Dry ice can either be checked-in or carried into the cabin. The dry ice should be refrigerated in low temperatures, however the total weight of any dry-ice should not exceed 2kg (4.4 lbs) per passenger. In accordance with regulations of the CAAC, a passenger should not travel with more than two bottles (each bottle should not be over 500ml) of carbonated drinks, mineral water, tea, milk, acidophilus milk, juice, etc. Passengers can purchase drinks after the security checks in airport/as long they are in compliance with the limits. Except for alcohol purchased after the security check in the airport, no alcohol should be carried. Limits on alcohol per passenger are 2 bottles under 1kg and total cubage should not exceed 1000ml.

Passengers can carry bottles of collar cleaner, mousse, brightener, insecticides, and air freshener as long as each bottle is less than 350ml. Perfume is allowed under 500ml. Passengers should not carry any articles that are over 1000ml or 1kg (2.2 lbs).

In accordance with ICAO Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (Version 2011-2012), passengers or crew members may bring their personal-use portable electronic devices. containing lithium or lithium ion battery cells or batteries, including watches, calculators, cameras, mobile phones, laptop computers and portable video cameras, etc., as carry-on baggage on board the plane provided that the lithium content in the lithium metal battery does not exceed 2g and the rating of the lithium ion battery does not exceed 100Wh. Lithium ion batteries with a rating between 100Wh and 160Wh may be installed on devices packed in checked baggage or carry-on baggage with the approval of the airline. Lithium batteries exceeding 160Wh are prohibited in both carry-on and checked baggage.

Spare batteries for portable electronic devices should be wrapped individually to prevent short circuits and may only be transported in carry-on baggage. Place the batteries in their original retail packaging or insulate the electrodes using other means, such as using adhesive tape to cover the exposed electrodes, or place each battery into a separate plastic bag or protective box. Passengers and crew members are allowed to carry no more than two airline approved spare batteries with a rating of 100Wh but not exceeding 160Wh.

If passengers and crew members bring wheelchairs or other similar personal mobility vehicles powered by lithium ion batteries, or if passengers bring portable electronic medical devices containing lithium metal or lithium ion battery cells or batteries for medical use, they must comply with the transportation and packaging requirements specified in the Technical Instructions and approved by the airlines.